Midwest Companies Set to Present at the 7th Annual InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum.

WHO:    Presenters from 30 of the Midwest's most promising
        entrepreneurial growth companies; regional and national
        venture capitalists, corporate and private investors, and
        investment bankers.

WHAT:   7th Annual InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum

WHERE:  A.G Edwards National Headquarters, One North Jefferson,
        St. Louis, Mo. 63103

WHEN:   Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Noonday Club, One Metropolitan Square
        3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.    Registration
        6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.    Opening Reception

        Thursday, April 6, 2006  A.G Edwards National Headquarters
        7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.    Registration and Forum breakfast
        8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.    Breakfast program
        8:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.   Company and panel presentations
        12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.   Forum luncheon and program
                                 Keynote by Peter Diamandis: "X PRIZE
                                 - Igniting the Personal Spaceflight
                                 Revolution"
        2:00 p.m.                Adjourn

SIGNIFICANCE:

        InvestMidwest is again providing an opportunity for 30
        emerging, privately held companies throughout the Midwest to
        present their business plans to an assembly of the nation's
        top venture capitalists, corporate and private investors and
        investment bankers. More than 40 firms have already registered
        to attend the Forum to hear the presentations, and other
        interested investors can sign up at
        www.investmidwestforum.com. The goal of InvestMidwest is to
        promote greater entrepreneurship, business growth, and
        expansion in the Midwest through providing presenters with the
        capital needed to move forward with their business endeavors.
        The 7th Annual InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum,
        underwritten by the Danforth Foundation and the Ewing Marion
        Kauffman Foundation and supported by a diverse group of public
        and corporate sponsors, attracts applicants from throughout
        the Midwest who have launched entrepreneurial growth companies
        in technology, life sciences and related industries. This
        year's keynote speaker will be X Prize Chairman and CEO Peter
        H. Diamandis. In his address, "X PRIZE - Igniting the Personal
        Spaceflight Revolution," Mr. Diamandis will be discussing his
        views on how competition has the potential to unleash progress
        and how he is using his proactive prize model to enable heroes
        and technological breakthroughs in other areas including
        energy, the environment, genomics, nanotechnology, medicine
        and the social arena. For more information, or to register
        call 314-444-1151 or visit investmidwestforum.com.